Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers protest outside Malik’s house

Amritsar, July 27 Activists of various farmers’ associations staged a dharna outside the residence of Rajya Sabha member and BJP leader Shwait Malik here on Monday to protest against the Union Government for promulgating three agriculture-related Ordinances. The stir was held on the call of a statewide protest by the All-India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC). The farmers earlier gathered at Company Bagh and took out a tractor march to draw attention of the public and the government towards their issues. The farmer leaders unanimously stated that the three ordinances — The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance — are against the interests of the agrarian community. The protesters criticised the Centre over high diesel prices. Rattan Singh Randhawa of the Jamhoori Kisan Sabha said: “The diesel prices are being hiked frequently. This is being done at a time when the diesel requirement of farmers is high because of the need to irrigate the rice crop.” He alleged that the Union Government was working against the interests of farmers and the poor. It was working to help big corporate houses only, said Randhawa. Jatinder Singh Chinna, a leader of the Kirti Kisan Union, said farmers were demanding implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report that recommended 50 per cent price over the input cost to farmers. “But the government is trying to end the MSP regime which is against the interests of farmers,” he said. The farmer leader said the Union Government must roll back the three Ordinances for the welfare of farmers. The protests raised slogans against the Centre and said all Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha members from the state, irrespective of political affiliations, must come in support of the farmers protesting against the Ordinances.

The Tribune

2020-07-28